Siblings Sheryar Shah and Syed Shah have both joined the West Midlands Police force (Photograph: West Midlands Police)
Sheryar and Syed Shah are used to serving the public after a career in retail – but now the pair have swapped High Street sales for High Street patrols after becoming two of West Midlands Police’s latest recruits.
Sheryar Shah (right) has swiftly followed in the footsteps of his younger sibling Syed (left) – who only started on the beat in April – to join the force’s current training cohort.
Syed, known as Luke, previously worked in retail, catering and for a charity before being put through his paces at the force’s Tally Ho training centre last November.
The 25-year-old had been a special constable before becoming a full-time officer and his pride at being a part of the force proved inspirational as within months his sibling Sheryar – also a former retail assistant – also secured a place on the PC recruitment scheme. The 27-year-old is due to hit the streets in September.
Luke, who is based with Solihull Police, said: “I always wanted to be a police officer, I did forensic and investigative studies at university. Then when I became a special constable a few years ago it really made my mind up I wanted to become a full-time officer.
“I managed to get on the training course which finished in April and have spent time with the response and neighbourhood teams in Solihull since. The skillset I have picked up in the process is fantastic, and how to deal with different situations.
“I remember one of my first arrests, a suspected burglar who tried to escape by climbing over garden fences. But I managed to intercept him and it was such a great feeling to do something to protect the community. It is what the role is about – being able to make a difference and support and reassure the public.
“Being a police officer is a whole different world to what I did before; it is not a routine, every day is different and there is a real camaraderie. It is a great feeling to be able to help others and to protect the vulnerable whatever the time of the day.
“I used to come home and Sheryar was interested in what I wanted to do. It is great to have my brother join the force too.”
Birmingham brothers Sheryar Shah and Syed Shah are now both West Midlands Police officers (Photograph: West Midlands Police)
The pair, both from Birmingham, are the first from their family to join a UK police force – although they have relatives who are part of the police in Pakistan.
Sheryar said: “We were excited as a family when Luke joined the police and when the opportunity came around for this latest cohort he said ‘why don’t you apply? I saw how much of a positive impact it had on him and how much more confidence he got from being part of the police.
“As a family we are very close and as brothers we try and push each other to become better officers. We discuss certain scenarios and how we would deal with them which helps us both. There are so many important skills to have as a police officer such as decision-making and good communication.
“I really love it, and the training is great. I am due to finish that in September and so there has not been a day where I have woken up and not wanted to go to work.
“It would be fantastic if we are on the beat together in the future.”
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